THE INGENUE CAPSULE MEETING GOTTFRIED

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Melina Ramsey
5 years ago
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1 THE INGENUE CAPSULE New to film-making, and young in years but not in soul. She has the kind of appearance and manner that makes people want to protect her or to take advantage of her. From a poor and restricted childhood background, she is still sometimes shocked, even repelled, by the behaviour that she sees around her in this celluloid Babylon. But she took avidly to the comforts and delights that fall to those who are loved by the camera, and she has indulged herself more often and more deeply than is wise. Will this affect her growing stardom? (Warning: this character has an addiction. It ll be up to you what the addiction is, and how much you want to play upon it; but if this is a trigger issue for you, you will want to avoid this role.) MEETING GOTTFRIED At first you thought he was just another creepy older guy. He was paying you a lot of attention detailed attention. You sighed inwardly and prepared to brush him off. But then you saw his eyes properly. There was something different about them an inner light, maybe. You felt like they were looking through your surface, and into you. Do you want this to be you this He gestured vaguely. It needn t be. You murmured that you weren t sure what he meant. But your mind was racing and your nerves were tingling. It was like a hit. I mean it, you know. There s more to life than being outrageously glamorous and making the world fall in love with you. He smiled. Although for most people, that d do to be getting on with but it s not enough for you, is it? You need something more. You felt ashamed: evidently he knew about your addiction. Come and work with me for a bit you ll find it interesting, I promise. No strings attached! Find your own path. How about it?

2 BACKGROUND You weren t especially cute as a young child, or so your parents said: just ordinary. It was something that came upon you in your teens you transformed into a swan. You started getting attention, and at first you welcomed it you hadn t yet realized that there could be a dark side to people liking you. You re older and wiser now, and you re careful about the effect that you know you have on people. Managing others emotions, and dealing with their responses, is a real load upon you you feel like to get through an average day, you re constantly in danger of accidentally overheating someone, or provoking an unwanted response. It s not surprising that you looked for a way to ease your mind. That was how it started just something to help you relax, wind down, let off some steam at the end of a tough day. Now, though, it s much more than that you are properly addicted. Your body is healthy and fit enough that you re not yet really showing the signs. But you know that won t last forever. Stardom has been kind of accidental. It just seemed like the obvious thing to do, to exploit your gifts. And you turned out to be OK at it! But you have the uneasy feeling that if you re to really progress if you want to make a solid mark upon this business you might have to clean yourself up first. Otherwise, you could just be stuck in ingénue roles until you re too old and worn to fool the camera. What is your name (real name and/or stage name)? Where are you from? How old are you? What was your family background like? How has your relationship/sexual history been? What s your current living situation like? How do you feel about your gender? How do you feel about your sexuality? Is there anyone outside the set of Stolen Moments who s important to you?

3 What s the most significant memory from your childhood? PRIMARY RELATIONSHIPS THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR He s a senior figure on the set, of course; second only to Gottfried himself. Experienced, professional, capable. And he has taken a particular interest in introducing you gently to the world of film he has been wonderfully kind and understanding. You may be new to the business, but you are no fool. You can see that he has feelings for you but for whatever reason, he s not able or not willing to express them. Would you like him to? THE DIVA She discovered you, and gave you your break for which you are duly grateful. And she s a great star, and hugely popular with the fans that s worth respect in itself. But sometimes you feel stifled by her attention. It s as though she feels that she owns you! You really don t want this to develop into an even more unhealthy relationship than it already is THE METHOD ACTING INSTRUCTOR She contacted you apparently she saw your screen tests. She feels that you ve really got something a rare talent. She thinks you re better than just the pretty-girl roles that you re being given. You are not sure. Maybe she s genuinely trying to help you, but maybe she s got an angle. People often do. What she s saying is flattering, for sure: but do you want to put yourself into her hands? THE SUBJECT She seemed to understand how tough it was for you she had been young and out-of-place in a difficult, glamorous environment. She knew what you needed to do, to cope with the pressures and she was happy to show you the way. Together you have plumbed the depths of indulgence. You can talk to her she will understand and she won t judge. And you do the same for her. But sometimes you really don t want to look her in the eye, after what you ve done together.

4 OTHER RELATIONSHIPS Positive THE JOURNEYING HERO he s got his route to the top mapped out, and is already some way along it. Maybe you can learn from him? THE MAKEUP ARTIST a real talent, who has brought out the best in you for the camera. She can see the damage that your addiction does to your eyes and to your skin; and she knows how to conceal it. Negative THE PSYCHOTHERAPIST She wants to understand your problems, but you don t have the sort of problems that she can help with. You re fine as you are. If only she d leave you alone. ANGEL You re keen to learn about the business, and you genuinely enjoy making people s lives brighter and more pleasant. You re interested in people, and how they work, and how they enjoy themselves. You re always willing to share DEVIL Some people, though, are just vile and you ve met more than your fair quota of them. There are times when you could cheerfully maim and mutilate every creep who s ogled you or hit you up in the street. And there are times when you let yourself get so deep, or so high, that you really don t know what you re doing or to whom. ROLE She s a young girl, of course on the start of her journey in life. But the path of that journey is intriguingly vague, from what you ve seen so far. It will let you stretch yourself if you want it to will let you find out your true capabilities, as an actor and as a person.

5 Out of character Your task in Act 1 is to create and rehearse scenes from Stolen Moments, together with your fellow-actors. You should also meet with THE HAIRSTYLIST, THE MAKEUP ARTIST, and THE COSTUME DESIGNER to discuss your character s needs; and you should get your portrait taken by THE STILLS PHOTOGRAPHER. During Act 2, you will probably be expected to continue this work. DILEMMA Life is pretty good you re successful, and you re handling it, with some chemical help. But to stay on this path so comfortable, so reassuring will in time shut off other doors. If you want to try something different maybe to become a real actor, and eventually a real star you may have to break your habit and you may not have long left.

THE MAKEUP ARTIST CAPSULE MEETING GOTTFRIED

THE MAKEUP ARTIST CAPSULE MEETING GOTTFRIED THE MAKEUP ARTIST CAPSULE She turned her back on her own beauty while still young, finding it had brought her more pain than joy. Now she devotes herself to shaping perfection on the faces of others: seeing